Walk set-up is correct (props control bow, rudders control stern). Don't
think your keel (from what I saw in the picture) is the problem.
Seemingly (but not) unimportant question .... which end lags behind ....
bow or stern? (in your example, hard right rudder, engines clutched,
only,[no throttle] for left twist) BTW, I'm hoping you say bow, lags
behind G.

otn

Jeff Morris wrote:
Oy! You had to ask! It isn't easy to remember with the controls in front of me, but I
guess:

To walk to Port, Rudders to Starboard, Port Engine in Reverse, Starboard Engine Forward.

The works with many twin screw boats, but I think mine has a keel that too long - I wonder
if its too efficient at low speed? Also, although the rudders are large, they are hung on
skegs and set back a bit from the screws, which are folding. I think all these things add
up to minimal "walking."

-jeff



"otnmbrd" wrote in message
nk.net...

G It varies a lot with all multi screw (except tractor tugs). From the
look at the picture, I would think she'd "walk" fairly well ( I'm
talking about sideways motion, not prop walk).
Just out of curiosity, when you set up to "walk" to stbd, how do you set
your engines and rudders? .... and which part has the problem keeping
up, bow or stern?

otn

Jeff Morris wrote:

And the answer is:

It varies a lot with the cat. Some have long keels, others have daggerboards. Some

have

steerable drives, some have a single outboard, some have a widely spaced diesels.

Some

have little windage, others a lot.

My boat has long keels, low windage on the bow (more aft), and widely space diesels.

She

can pivot in place very nicely but has little prop walk. People have told me they

could

make it go sideways, but when I've challenged them to try, they've always failed. I

often

have to dock on a face, which is actually often tough - I usually rely on getting

close

enough to snag a cleat, then springing in the rest of the way. If I have a few hands
around to help I can usually get the boat anywhere I want. The hands don't have to do
much of anything, but I find it difficult to singlehand because the visibility around

the

edges is limited.

This morning I had a special challenge - I had to back into a TravelLift the is about

6

inches wider than my beam. The wind started light, but picked up to about 15 knots

cross

as I was coming in. The real problem was that one prop had trouble staying open in
foreword - I had to do most of the work with just one engine. This made it difficult

to

stay lined up. I felt that I totally turkeyed it, but I was complimented by the Lift-
Meister and dockhand, and no damage was done. I found that the gearing that forces to

two

blades to open together had totally sheared off.

Here's a pic taken slightly later:
http://www.sv-loki.com/Img_1616a.jpg